Xiaomi Mi Box S streams in 4K, has Android TV, and Google Assistant

The media streaming device streams in 4K and features Android TV 8.1 with Chromecast and Google Assistant functionality.

The Xiaomi Mi Box S will go on sale in the U.S. this month and will cost $60.

Today was all about the Google Pixel 3 and other Google-branded hardware the company launched at its annual event in New York City. However, Pixel devices weren’t the only thing to launch today, as Xiaomi just launched the brand new Xiaomi Mi Box S.

The Xiaomi Mi Box S is an upgraded version of the Xiaomi Mi Box, a media streaming device the company launched in 2016. Like its predecessor, the Xiaomi Mi Box S streams in 4K and is built on Android TV.

However, unlike its predecessor, the Xiaomi Mi Box S will ship with the latest version of Android TV (based on Android 8.1 Oreo) and have Google Assistant functionality built right in, with a dedicated button at the top of its remote. That means you’ll have quick access to Google Assistant voice commands:

The remote also features a new dedicated Netflix button and a live TV button right next to that.

And the best media streaming device you can buy is…

…. Nvidia Shield, hands down. Unless it isn’t.
Confused? The reality is that different media players make sense for different people. Our sister site DGIT pitted the Nvidia Shield TV against the Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku …

The Xiaomi Mi Box S also has some upgraded specs, including a quad-core CPU with a Mali-450 GPU, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, Bluetooth 4.2, one HDMI 2.0A port, one audio out port, and one USB 2.0 port.

All-in-all, the Xiaomi Mi Box S looks to deliver a very similar experience as compared to the original Mi Box, but with more functionality and — surprisingly — a cheaper price. The original Mi Box launched in 2016 for $69, but this upgraded version will only cost you $60. You can pre-order it now from exclusive retailer Wal-Mart by clicking the button below.

Xiaomi Mi Box S pre-orders will ship on October 19, and the device will arrive in stores in early November. Sounds like the perfect holiday gift idea!